Notice2026-08754
Notice of Inventory Completion: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA
Primary source
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Published
May 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24292-24293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08754]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7124; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042696; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
History, Santa Barbara, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after June 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Luke Swetland, President and CEO, Santa Barbara
Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA
93105, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#472b343022332b2629230734252926333235227569283520"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bad6c9cddfced6dbd4defac9d8d4dbcecfc8df8894d5c8dd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and additional information on
the determinations in this notice, including the results of
consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this
notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals were removed
from Placer County, CA. These unprovenienced human skeletal remains
were given to Professor David L. Jennings, teacher of anthropology and
geography courses at Los Angeles City College (LACC), by student Robert
Marx in the 1950s. While attending LACC, Robert Marx, who later became
a noted shipwreck hunter and underwater archaeologist, spent his
weekends hunting for gold along the American River, localities from
which we believe these Ancestors were likely removed. The human remains
consist of one femur, one right mandible fragment with five teeth, one
cranium and mandible with eight teeth, and one cranial fragment.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this
notice.
Determinations
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of at least four individuals of Native American
ancestry.
[[Page 24293]]
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Jackson Band of Miwuk Indians; Shingle Springs
Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract),
California; United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of
California; Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Carson Colony,
Dresslerville Colony, Woodfords Community, Stewart Community, & Washoe
Ranches); and the Wilton Rancheria, California.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal
descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after June 4, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The Santa Barbara Museum of
Natural History is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: April 27, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-08754 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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